Improvement in automatic boiler-feeders



R. RAFAEL. 111111011111110 EOILEE EEEDEE.

110.1191119. Patented S6111, 12, 1865.

Acation to a steam-boiler.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. RAFAEL, oE NEW Yoeri, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN` AUTOMATIC BOILER-FEEDERS.

Specification forming `part of Letters Patent No. 49,919, dated September 12, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 1t. RAFAEL, ofthe city, county, and State of New York, haveinventedV a new and Improved Automatic Boiler-Feeder; and AI do hereby declare that the' following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and nse the same, reference beiiighad to the accompanying drawings, forming part ot' this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of this invention, showing its appli- Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the feeding-chamber and plunger detached.`

Similar letters ot` reference indicate .like parts.

This invention relates to a boiler-feeder which is composed vof a manychambered plunger, which is fitted transversely through two chambers, and to which a reciprocating motion is imparted by an eccentric, a. rockshaft, or any other suitable means. The two chambers are separated from` each other by a vertical partition, and one of them is in direct communication with the't'eed-tank or wa vter-supply pipe, whereas 'the other communi# cates by a pipe extending from its top with the steam -space, and by a pipe extending from its bottom with the water-space of a steam-boiler. It' the plunger is situated on a level with the mean water-line of the steamboiler and a reciprocating motion is imparted to it, the cells in said plunger fill with water in passing through the first or open chamber and the water contained in said cells is carf ried into the second chamber, whence it descends into the boiler, provided the' water therein has sunk below the mean water-line. By these means the water in the boiler will always be at the proper level, and t-he feeder requires no further attention after it has been once properly'adjusted.

A represents the plunger, which is made of metal or any other suitable material, in the form of a solid cylinder, oriu any other suitable form or shape. It is pierced. transversely to its axis with a series of chambers, a, which pass clear through the same, and are open at the top and bottom. This plunger passes through two chambers,B C, which are situated side by side, and separated from each other by a vertical partition, b, as clearly shown in the drawings. Suitable stuffing-boxes in the ends of the chambers B C andthe partition b pre vent leakage.

The chamber B communicates with a cistern, tank, or reservoir containing water, or it is `kept continually supplied with water, a strainer, c, being arranged in its upper part to prevent the entrance ot' impurities.

Thefeed-chamberGcommunicates, by means of a pipe, d, emanating from its top, with the steam-space, and by a pipe,e, emanatingfrom its bottom, with the water-space, of a steamboiler, D, and the chambers B G are put np in such a position that the plunger .is on a level with the mean water-line of the boiler. Said plunger is intended to connect by a suitable rod with an eccentric, or with a rock-l shaft, or any other device arranged so that a reciprocating motion is imparted to the same as soon as the engine starts.

When the cells a in the plunger come into the supply-chamber B they iill with water, and as the plunger moves toward the feedcha'mber C the water contained in said cells is carried into the feed-chamber. The pressure in this chamber is equal to that in the boiler, and if the water insaid boiler has sunk below the mean water-line the water coutained in the cells sinks down and enters the boiler, and by these means a certain quantity of water is introduced into the boiler for each stroke of the plunger.

When the water in the boiler is up to the mean water-line thecells of the plunger, on arriving in the feed-chamber C, do not empty, and they carry the water contained therein Vback and forth as long as the water in the boiler maintains its level.

It will be readily seen that by this arrangement the water in the' boiler is kept at a uniform level, for whenever a diminution of the water in the boiler takes place from any cause whatever, either from evaporation or from leakage, the loss is immediately made up by a portion or the whole of the contents of the cell in the plunger.

The apparatus is very. simple in its construction. It is not liable to get out of re pair, audits action is entirely automatic.

`I claim as new and desire to secure by Let' The above specification of my invention ters Patentl The reciprocating plunger A, prvided with a. series ofeel1s,a, and-operatng,'in combina.- tion with a supply chamber, B, and feed- Witnesses: y chamberAG, substantially as and for the pur- M. M. LIVINGSTON, pose described. C. L. TOPLIFF.

signed by me this 12th day of June, 1865.

R. RAFAEL. 

